Find your dealer

Burton Upon Trent, October 1, 2012 – The closing round of the Pirelli-supported MINI Challenge will take place at Donington Park this weekend where Henry Gilbert aims to clinch the 2012 crown.

Based in Leicestershire, Donington Park will host four 20-minute races in the highly competitive single-make series that uses renowned Italian firm Pirelli as the championship’s sole tyre supplier. Nearing the end of its 11th year, the MINI Challenge has firmly established itself as one of the most prestigious one-make championships in the UK, and is increasingly seen as a training ground for motorsport’s future stars.

Henry Gilbert heads the overall competitor leaderboard as well as the highly-competitive Club class with a total of 309 points. Jono Brown holds second, 26-points adrift of the lead. In the John Cooper Works class, Lee Allen leads the category by 43 points over second-placed Chris Smith.

The JCW class will be provided with slick and wet options: the 225/625-17 DH slick and 225/625-17 WS wet tyre. Pirelli DH slicks and N3 wets will be available to the Club Class.

Pirelli UK Motorsport Operations Manager Matthew Corby commented: “With four races at Donington Park this weekend, the 2012 title chase is far from over. Henry certainly looks like he will be the favourite to win this year’s crown but it could still go Jono’s way. This has been the first year that Pirelli has supplied tyres to the MINI Challenge but we have been immensely impressed by how competitive and well organised the championship is. It was also fantastic to see British Tour Car Championship driver Paul O’Neill compete on the last round where he credited both the standard of the driving and our tyres. I look forward to what is expected to be a thrilling end to a fantastic season of racing.”

Series promoter Paul Harvey said: “Once again the championship goes to the last event undecided. It’s been a brilliant season and the Donington event promises to be a great finale.”

Have you signed up to the new Pirelli Grand Prix Challenge? Play the Pirelli F1 fantasy game online for a chance to win dozens of prizes including a trip for two to an F1 race. Visit the website for more details: www.pirelligpchallenge.co.uk